Splash.

They fell into the cold water. Luckily shallow, Eiden felt his feet on the ground. They stood sputtering and coughing.

"Eiden, what the hell," Evan yelled.

"The high tide, it's even higher than before," Eiden yelled and they all ran to the higher ground, panting and shivering from the cold sea breeze.

"Let's go a little more up." Eiden looked around to find some dead branches, even though a bit damp, enough for a fire. He told others to collect more dead branches and soon they came to a grassy area, well away from the watermark.

They sat down around the campfire and felt warm, dry, and a little better.

“Did you get hurt by the knife?” Eiden inquired.

“I don't think so, lucky I was wearing armor,” Jake replied, hugging himself and getting closer to the fire. Two of them were already taken by the shadows. Eiden shuddered thinking about those corrupted men, who must have accompanied his parents.

"Evan," Eiden turned to Evan. He looked devastated and, Jake was trying to hide tears. They must have been friends. Evan's and Eiden's friend circles were different.

"Yeah," he said softly, staring at the fire.

"I think we should eat and drink something." Eiden wasn't that hungry, but he felt others could do something with some hot food. He made tea for everyone, then put a stew on the stove. He had carried four cups and plates for his friends and could use them now.

"Young master is taking a bunch of cups." Jake nodded at his stash.

"I got a few for friends," Eiden smiled, his heart warmed just by thinking of them.

"I'm sorry about your friends. We also came close to a disaster." Recalling the near-death experience with his friends, he offered his sympathy.

"That man was hypnotized, when Pete looked at us he also had this glazed look," Evan said thoughtfully.

"I guess, they were lured." Eiden checked the stew and pulled out two bowls and spoons.

"Lured? By dark magic?" Evan asked.

"Yes. I heard the shadows could look like your loved one. And tell bad things to do. Seemed like this time it took their lives." Eiden explained to them.

"Every time you tell something about this hell hole, it gets ten times worse," Evan snapped and threw a stick far into the sea.

"Better know it, than not."

"Don't waste sticks. Idiot," Eiden shoved him.

"Do you think, I might be safer in the fire mountain than staying near to young masters?" Jake asked, chuckling.

"He started," Eiden said purely out of habit, and realizing it, turned around embarrassed, to the stove. He gave others two bowls and sat with the pot for himself. Evan looked at him amazed.

"I camped a lot, in the last few weeks," Eiden shrugged.

"You ran away," Evan said without looking at Eiden.

"You were going to kill me," Eiden muttered. No denial came. There must have been a conspiracy, his instincts were right.

"Esme didn't want to marry you," Evan said quietly.

"I thought, Esme sort of liked me." Eiden felt confused and perhaps a bit angry.

"Why didn't she tell me?" he complained angrily.

"I don't know, she likes Raki, they were hanging out," Evan revealed. Eiden felt he had been punched in the gut.

"What?" he croaked, putting the pot on the ground before he could drop it. Others looked at him surprised.

"Raki? You said Raki," Eiden gripped Evan's shirt and shook him.

"What? Eiden?" Evan tried to remove Eiden's hands.

"You said Raki,'' Eiden repeated, his eyes blown wide and he was gasping for air like he was drowning. Eiden felt a wave of calming magic hit him. Jake removed his hands from Evan and made him sit. Eiden's mind was racing, Raki...Raki could be a spy. He could be telling Esme. And Uncle. He could be angry with Eiden.

"Eiden? What's wrong? I didn't know you liked Esme that much," Evan sounded shocked.

"No..no, Esme is ok, nice," Eiden stammered.

"It's Raki," he buried his face in his hands.

These people won't hesitate to kill his family. Why is he tending them? Why is he helping them? Something in him screamed. Are you happy saving poisonous snakes? a voice asked. So they could bite you later. Another voice chidded. No. Stop. He screamed.

"Eiden? Get yourself together." He heard Evan's angry growl.

Eiden struggled with the darkness inside him, whispering and taunting. He thought of fire, his fire burning within him, he imagined how his fire cleansed Papa, engulfed black fire consuming the darkness. He felt lighter. Dark clouds were slowly parting. He opened his eyes and saw Evan and Jake, scared. No. Eiden was not going to abandon these people.

"Sorry," he mumbled. It could be the dark magic that poisoned his blood, it must be.

"We should leave this place," he whispered. He looked them in the eyes.

"I have been here for days, it's affecting me." He took a deep breath and told them.

"Let's look at my notes, Evan, you took Rune classes before me. Uncle is a rune expert.“ He took his notes out and got close to the fire. Eiden felt they were tense, nonetheless, they didn't comment and started reading notes.

Next hour or so, they poured over Eiden's notes, and asked questions, with Eiden trying to remember the sequence to the home dimension.

"Young master smells dark magic, pardon me," Jake said suddenly.

"Ask Evan why?" Eiden chuckled bitterly. He sensed Evan's anger. But, he didn't yell or attack. Eiden didn't know he wanted them to attack. He felt hyper.

"What happened to me?" He looked at Evan. They owed him an answer, he saved their lives. Evan took a long moment and sighed.

"Someone wanted to know the nature of your magic," he said finally.

"Why wings, they could have done it somewhere else." Eiden pressed for more answers.

"Oh, come on, you oblivious little fool," Evan sounded frustrated.

"Who wanted someone with damaged wings to have the title? Higher-up Nesols will think that's no better than being a Craig." Evan threw a stick this time to fire with an unnecessary force, making flames shoot into the air for a second.

This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

"Oh, I didn't know." He never thought about that from such an angle.

"Damaged?" He heard Jake exclaim in a low voice.

"Eiden?"

Eiden felt Evan suddenly tense in fear. He looked up to see Evan looking at the note with wide eyes and a strange expression. He dropped it like a hot potato.

"What?" Eiden was annoyed by his notes thrown around and he picked them up and glanced at Evan's modifications.

They were trying to force open the door without a key. So far, their sequence changes required other magical items such as crystals and potions which they can't find here. This could work, Eiden opened his mouth to ask, then, he realized why Evan looked horrified at that. Eiden froze. His hand went to the belt and he slowly looked up, ready to defend himself.

"Going to gang up on me?" he asked with a charming and deadly smile.

They were sitting a little apart from each other cross-legged on a mat. Evan's face was illuminated partly by orange light from the fire. They stared at each other. Evan's amber-colored eyes were glowing and Eiden knew his own green orbs also must be blazing with his magic.

They all jumped in the air when a loud boom was heard, the shock wave knocked them down. The ground shook. An enormous cloud of ash rose to the sky, in the direction of the island. Eiden's ears were still ringing.

"What is that?" Jake gasped.

"The fire mountain has erupted." Eiden clung to Evan.

The sky was slowly being flooded by ash and the night was darkening. Even before they recovered from the shock, they saw the land in front of them exposed for dozens of yards to the seaward.

"Look," The sea went back and would come back to engulf them.

"Run," Someone yelled.

They ran uphill, it was too difficult to see enough to teleport. But their efforts were nothing compared to the wave that rose from the sea. It was like a sky-high, black wall of water.

"Jake," Eiden yelled, extending his hand. The huge wave descended on them like doom. With a mighty leap, Eiden landed on Evan and teleported away.

Eiden woke up with a shout, breathing hard, and pushed the heavy blanket off, sitting up instantly. He was sitting on a soft and warm bed, in a large room, painted in light blue. He smelled the fresh air and turned to the side to see the window was slightly open and the velvet draperies rustled with the wind. Early morning sun was seeping through the little gap.

Someone huffed in annoyance beside him.

"Evan?" Eiden exclaimed. The person beside him sat up and pinched Eiden hard, making him yelp.

"We just got married and you wake up looking for my brother, Eiden?"

"What?" Eiden stared at the half-lidded sleepy eyes of his beautiful Esmeralda. He looked down at her open shoulders, noticing one strap of the silk nightgown falling off.

"No..it's a..dream," he muttered.

Esme pushed his back to the headboard and sat on his lap. Putting hands around his neck, looking into his eyes, and whispered.

"Are you dreaming of my brother, love?" Her eyes were shining like dancing fairy lights.

"Noo.." Eiden paused for a second, suddenly realizing what Esme meant.

"Eww, noo," he loudly protested.

"It's a scary dream," he declared. They stared at one another for a long moment and dissolved into giggles that made their way to loud laughter.

Eiden encircled her in his arms, and peppered kisses on her smiling face, thinking why he was dreaming such weird things when he had other hundred and one things to do with his beautiful wife. He was well on his way down, kissing the soft and golden skin on her shoulders, they heard a knock on the door.

"Oh, come on," he groaned and Esme giggled. She planted a soft kiss on his pouting lips.

"Pardon me, my lord, the breakfast is scheduled in 20 minutes," a voice announced from outside of the door.

"Next time, wake up a little earlier to perform your husband duties before your monarch duties, my handsome monarch," Esme said playfully, as Eiden laid her on her back and resumed his kisses.

"Don't want to be a monarch," he mumbled to her chest.

"Aww." Eiden cried when Esme pinched his cheek.

"My father is attending the breakfast. Do you want to be late?"

Eiden automatically moved his hands, letting his butler dress him, still thinking about his strange dreams. He couldn't stop feeling that something was out of place. Well, that has to wait until he deals with today's work. It is hard, being a monarch, he sighed and went for breakfast.

He met Esme in the hallway leading to the dining hall, and placed a light kiss on her hand, murmuring 'my lady' and earning a dazzling smile from her.

The meal proceeded with the same small talk, but Eiden's mind was not in it, and he struggled to keep up with Uncle's questions, and nasty looks sent at him by Evan. At least, something was normal, he sighed as they stood up to leave the table.

"Don't forget our appointment in the training arena, brother," Evan said in a low voice, almost colliding with him, and looking squarely at Eiden. Whoah. When did I get as tall as Evan? He was surprised.

"Wouldn't even dream of that," Eiden muttered.

He kissed Esme before leaving.

"Don't forget you told me, you could beat my brother." She laughed as Eiden nuzzled her neck, smelling her sweet scent. He kissed her brow and reluctantly let her go.

Throughout the day, Eiden felt uneasy like something was missing and he didn't think he did a good job listening to anyone. Was that because of the dream he had? What's that again? Some dark and crazy dream, and why exactly Evan was there?

Eiden was on his way to the training arena when he suddenly stopped at the hallway that crosses through the main inner courtyard. The rose marble statue of the Goddess Nixe was bathing in twilight in the center of the sparkling water fountain. The lotus flowers in the pond had closed their petals and had already gone to sleep, but there was still a lingering scent of flowers in the air. Eiden stared at the statue.

Didn't he promise someone, he's not going to draw weapons with Evan?

"My lord, shall we go, or it will be late?" Eiden was startled when the guard called him.

"Oh..yes of course." Evan won't even see what hit him, Eiden thought angrily as he quickened his pace.

The training arena which was usually packed with military officials, especially on the days when Evan and Eiden both were present (because they had to protect the palace if things between them escalated) was strangely empty, except for them.

"You're late, Eiden," Evan laughed his ugliest of laughs.

Eiden was in his full armor, like Evan, he drew his blade. But, Eiden felt he was not keen on fighting. Because he has something else, very important, to do, right now, shouldn't be late.

"No," he backed down.

"What, are you afraid to lose?" Evan stepped forward. Hell. No. Eiden raised his sword. Evan's sword clashed loudly with Eiden's shield of ice, making them both stagger.

"NO," Eiden shouted. He shouldn't fight. It was close, he dropped his blade. But, Evan didn't and he sneered.

"You, coward, are you going to run? Don't you hate me?" he chuckled.

"Aww, I get it, you're scared," he drawled sweetly like Eiden was a cat.

Eiden looked down at his blade and summoned it back to his hand. It burst into flames. For a vanishing moment, he thought he saw something dark moving in the glow of his fire. His fire.

Evan took a step back. That's wrong, Evan doesn't back off to the fire. Eiden yelled a battle cry as he sent a wave of his fire at retreating Evan. But, it didn't hit Evan, because everything around him changed at the same time.

Stopping in front of the wall that appeared out of nowhere, he looked around. It was not their training arena, but a deserted hallway. He was inside an illusion, unable to remember how or why he was here. He only knew that something very urgent had to be done, and he needed to get out of the illusion. He was tired, and shouldn't waste his magic.

Running towards the far end of the hallway, Eiden noticed a carved wooden door. He opened the door but stumbled backward in surprise.

It was a city, a burning city. The huge buildings were entirely engulfed in the thick black smoke which was covering the sky. He heard the cries of people everywhere. People, running in the streets, some were burning in the black fire and some were chased by other people. He stifled a cry as a man beheaded a woman, laughing menacingly.

Eiden was staring terrified at the brutality that unfolded in front of him, he didn't see the two men come running along the street, towards the door. He noticed them when he heard a yell and a magical spear went over him burning a few strands of his hair. No, he's not going to stay out there, Eiden turned to the door to go inside, only to find the door was gone, and he was looking at a blank wall.

He ducked to avoid a blast of magic and threw a shield to cover him, from falling debris. The men were getting closer to him, fighting, and Eiden didn't want to deal with crossfire. But, as soon as they saw him, Eiden found that he was in the middle of a full-blown threeway magical fight. He defended himself with all the shields he could think of and didn't attack, because somewhere deep in the mind, he knew he shouldn't attack for an unexplainable reason.

The armored man who was furthest away from Eiden was closing the distance. His spells were fast and powerful, and Eiden realized he better attack and get rid of the opponent before seeking a way to escape from this illusion. Dying in an illusion. No way.

He drew his blade and charged at the man. They both were defending attacks from another individual who was also getting closer. Smoke and dust made it harder to see anything. Eiden thwarted another magical blast which illuminated a large area around him.

"Evan?"

Eiden was fighting with Evan, in a burning city. Eiden didn't see if Evan recognized him or not. But, he suddenly realized it was the same. They were fighting for life again.

Reverting his attacks to defensive mode, he tried to see who the other person was. His ring of fire halted the attacks for a second, and the red glow showed him the third person for a moment before he sent another blast. Jake. Eiden remembered at once, they were running from a tsunami wave in the shadow dimension.

Eiden yelled at them to stop, and in his mind, he screamed for the illusion to end, calling forth his cleansing fire, and letting flames rage around them. The landscape around him blurred and vanished into the darkness.